Multi-Purpose Working Device

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose working device comprises a rear frame, a front frame, a central part connecting the rear frame to the front frame, and a tool-maintaining device connected to the central part by an adjusting system, such that said tool-maintaining device can pivot in an essentially perpendicular manner in relation to the longitudinal axis and essentially parallel to the base counter to the central part. The central part comprises at least one stationary part and another part which can be displaced counter thereto, such that the displaceable part can be displaced, essentially, in the longitudinal direction in relation to the stationary part. The front frame comprises a front wheel which can rotate about an angle range of at least 120 degrees, preferably at least 180 degrees, a hydraulic control which acts upon the front wheel for directional control, and a hydraulic drive which is used to drive the front wheel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of PCT/EP2006/065164 filed Aug. 8, 2006, whichclaims priority to German Patent Application 10 2005 037 389.5 filedAug. 8, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a multi-purpose working device, in particular,for the production of flat surfaces with a rear frame, a front frame, acentral part connecting the rear to the front frame, wherein movementmeans, preferably wheels, are fixed to the front and rear frames.

BACKGROUND

Such multi-purpose working devices are known in prior art. For example,from DD 237 860 A1 a leveling machine having these features is known.The rear frame and the tool holder of this leveling machine areconnected via two telescopic connections of the central part to thefront axle. This leveling machine has a substantial drawback in thatdrawing in and out of the two telescopic connections has to correspondwith respect to each other and therefore is technically very complex.Due to the various movable parts this leveling machine moreover is veryaccident-sensitive. The complicated mechanics, moreover, requires a verylarge and heavy overall construction, which has a high weight andtherefore represents a high surface load of the ground and is only verypoorly maneuverable. Therefore, such a multi-purpose working devicecannot be employed on sensitive ground or in narrow areas.

DE 2 155 193 B1 shows a leveling machine according to which the fixedfront axle which is equipped with two wheels is connected by means of afixed central frame to the two-axle rear frame. A leveling tool is fixedto the central frame, the distance of which to the surface to be worked,lying there under can be kept constant by means of a spacer device. Dueto its construction, also this leveling machine is very hard and poorlymaneuverable.

DE 1931015 B shows an earth moving vehicle with a two-axle rear part anda two-axle front part. By means of a very complex hydraulic system anattempt is made to guarantee that both the two-axle rear part and thetwo-axle front part have a uniform pressure on the ground to be workedduring maneuvering, to thereby keep the surface load acceptable in spiteof the high weight. The size which is caused by the construction,however, leads to a bad maneuverability of the vehicle.

DE 3418975 A1 describes a traction machine on the rear side of which aleveling or earth moving means, respectively, is arranged. Due to thethereby caused size of the means, the latter also is poorlymaneuverable.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to avoid the drawbacksdescribed above and to provide a multi-purpose working device, whichspecifically has a low surface load with high maneuverability at thesame time.

This object is solved according to the invention by the multi-purposeworking device mentioned above, which has a tool holder connected via anadjustment means to the central part such that the tool holder ispivoting substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis andsubstantially parallel to the ground against the central part, wherebythe rear and front frames have movement means, in particular wheels, andwhereby the central part has at least one fixed part and one partmovable thereto, such that the movable part is substantially moveablelongitudinally against the fixed part.

The front frame has a front wheel and means for direction control,preferably a hydraulic control. By means of using a front wheel which isrotatable about at least a total of 120 degrees, preferably about atleast 160 degrees, very preferable at least 180 degrees, the turn radiusof the multi-purpose working device can be minimized together with themoveable central part.

The front frame can have a preferably hydraulic drive for driving thefront wheel fixed to the frame. Thereby, it is possible to rotate thefront rear by 90 degrees out of the longitudinal axis and to therebymove the multi-purpose working device in a circle. Thereby, also smallerareas and narrow paths, for example walking trails, ca be worked withthe multi-purpose working device according to the invention.

The attachment of the tool holder at the central part of themulti-purpose working device has the additional advantage that the toolholder describes the same path as the central part, and thereby reducesthe space required for, for example, cornering, thereby increasingmobility. This mobility is further increased, if the multi-purposeworking device has a pivot between the rear frame and the central partby means of which the central part, preferably by means of hydraulic, ispivotable substantially parallel to the ground against the rear frame.Thereby, the radius additionally can be reduced during cornering.

The combination of driven front wheel, a central part adjustable in itslength, and a pivot between the central part and the rear frame alsoenables to work places which are difficult to access, for example thecorners of a soccer ground.

The compact construction with the drive of all wheels enabled by themulti-purpose working device according to the invention also allows avery light weight construction. Because the weight of the tools can bedistributed according to this construction on the front and rear framesof the multi-purpose working device very well, the surface pressure onthe ground to be worked is reduced. This is particularly advantageous,if the ground to be worked has a low loading capacity due to itsstructure, for example, when a lawn heating is existing or drainageswhich are embedded in the ground.

The tool holder preferably has an additional adjustment means. Thisadjustment means substantially serve for adjusting the horizontal andvertical angle of the tool holder relative to the surface. Preferably,the adjustment means have hydraulic components; very preferably they aredecoupled from each other such that the horizontal and vertical anglesof the tool holder are adjustable independently of each other.

Moreover, it has been found to be advantageous, if the tool holder has adisplacement device, which substantially serves for the lateralextension of the tool.

Preferably, the multi-purpose working device has one or several distancemeasurement devices, by means of which substantially the verticaldistance of the tool connected to the tool holder can be determinedrelative to the surface. Especially preferably the multi-purpose workingdevice has a control means, which controls the distance between the tooland the ground, whereby the control means moves the tool connected tothe tool holder by adjustment of the vertical distance of at least oneside relative to the surface. A distance, which has been previously setbetween the tool and the surface, is reestablished with respect to thechanging ground by the control means.

Moreover, it has been found to be advantageous, if the central part ofthe multi-purpose working device has at least one fixed part, which isnot moveable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the rearpart, and a movable part, whereby the movable part substantially movesin longitudinal direction against the fixed part. By moving the movablepart, the modification of the wheel base is achieved.

It is advantageous to construct the central part telescopically and tomove the movable part preferably by means of hydraulics against thefixed part.

In a preferred embodiment, the front frame has means for receivingfurther members, preferably for additional weights, very preferred foradditional soil working devices.

It has been found to be advantageous to provide three point hydraulicson the rear frame, preferably for receiving additional or other devicesor tools, very preferred further soil working devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For further explanation of the invention, in the following a specificembodiment is illustrated. It is shown:

FIG. 1 is a multi-purpose working device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a tool holder with attached tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing theinvention as presently contemplated. This description is not intended tobe understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of theinvention presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to theaccompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of theadvantages and construction of the invention. In the various views ofthe drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the multi-purpose working device 1 accordingto the invention, having a front frame 10, a rear frame 11 and a centralpart 20 connecting the rear to the front frame, comprising a movablepart 21 and a fixed part 22. The front and rear frames have movementmeans 40 and 41, respectively, which here are wheels. Also, othermovement means, for example, caterpillars can be employed. Thiseventually depends on the concrete area of application. The tool holder90 is connected to the fixed central part 22 via an adjustment device,here an axis 70. A tool 30, here a leveling sign, is attached to thetool holder 90.

Because the tool holder 90 is connected to the central part 20 via anaxle 70, it describes substantially the same path as the central part20. The axle 70 serves for the purpose of modifying the horizontalangle, also the angle between tool holder 90 and the longitudinal axisof the central part 20. Thereby, the tool 30 can be aligned angularly tothe driving direction of the multi-purpose working device. Preferably,the tool holder 90 is rotated substantially by means of a hydraulicsystem or by means of another device suitable for rotating theadjustment device 70.

The central part 20 has a fixed part 22 and a part 21, which is movablerelative thereto. It has been found to be advantageous to construct thecentral part 20 in a telescopic manner. The movable part 21, thereby,runs within the fixed central part 22. The moveable central part 21 isdrawn in and out preferably by means of a hydraulic system. It is alsoconceivable that the movable part 21 runs above or below the fixed part22, and is moved for example via a crank or a chain against the fixedpart. The drawing in and out of the movable part 21 causes anenlargement or a reduction of the wheelbase. A reduced wheelbaseincreases the maneuverability of the multi-purpose working devicewhereas an increased wheelbase substantially provides higher stabilityand additional higher pressure of the tool 30 on the ground. Asubstantial advantage of an increased wheelbase is the fact that therebyunevenness of the ground to be worked can be leveled in a better manner.

The movement means 40 and 41, here, are wheels. Also, caterpillars canbe employed, which depends on the application area. The front frame 10has exactly one front wheel, which can also be formed as a double wheel,and a device for direction control of the front wheel. As device fordirection control, a not illustrated hydraulic system is employed.Additionally, a drive is provided at the front frame 10, to drive thefront wheel. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a not illustrated oilhydraulic drive is concerned, which is operated by flexible oil pressurelines 15.

The use of only one front wheel has two substantial advantages: on theone hand, the front wheel can be set in an angle of 90° transversallywith respect to the axis, whereby the rotation of the multi-purposeworking device around its own axis is possible, on the other hand, themobility of multi-purpose working device is particularly highlyincreased by a short central part, because the required space of thefront wheel maximally corresponds to the radius of the front wheel alsoduring cornering, in contrast to the large and heavy-duty axis knownfrom prior art.

A device 50 for receiving further members, preferably additional weightor tools, is provided on the front frame 10. By receiving additionalweights, the pressure of the tool 30 on the ground is increased and thestability is increased. Additionally, the anti skid capability of thedriven front wheel is increased.

A three points hydraulic 60 for receiving further apparatuses, forexample of a rear stacker, a rotary harrow, a molding cutter or furthertools is attached on the rear frame 11. Thereby, the number of itsapplication possibilities of the multi-purpose working device issubstantially increased. Also, a power-take-off shaft for driving thesoil working devices received by the three points hydraulic is provided.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed illustration of the tool holder 90 with attachedleveling sign 30 as tool, shown in FIG. 1. The tool holder 90 hasadjustment devices 100, here, and two hydraulic arms. On the tool holder90, additionally one displacement device, not shown here, and twodistance measurement devices 120 can be attached. The distancemeasurement devices 120, here, can be both used for measuring thedistance to the ground as well as for measuring the lateral distance. Asdistance measurement device 120, ultra sonic means, laser means orfurther means suitable for measuring a distance are employed.

To modify the vertical angle of the tool 30 to the ground, alsoadjustment devices 100 are employed. By means of these adjustmentdevices 100 the tool 30 is tilted on one side downwards or upwards,whereby the vertical angle of the tool 90 to the ground is modified.

There are shown two adjustment devices 100, whereby one adjustmentdevice is fixed on the left hand side and the other adjustment device isfixed on the right hand side to the tool 30. As adjustment devices 100,appropriately hydraulic arms are used. For tilting the tool 30, thesethen have to correspond to each other independently. The adjustmentdevices 100 also serve for adjusting the height of the tool 30. Bysimultaneous driving in and out of the adjustment devices 100, the tool30 moves upwards or downwards, respectively. The tool 30 itself movesthereby along a guiding rail along a fixture 115, not illustrated here.

The tool holder 90 further comprises a not shown displacement device, bymeans of which the tool 30 substantially can be drawn out both leftwardsand rightwards substantially laterally. Thereby, the application area ofthe multi-purpose working device is substantially increased, becausespecifically together with the adjustment of the vertical angle to theground also the ground laterally of the multi-purpose working device,for example, an embankment or a sidewalk, can be worked. Preferably, thedisplacement device is also realized as a hydraulic system. However, theuse of, for example, gear wheels is also possible. The displacementdevice preferably is operated independently of the adjustment devices100.

In a preferred embodiment, the two distance measurement devices 120 areconnected to a control means. Thus, a fixed preset distance can be keptconstant also during changing ground relative to the ground withchanging distance of the tool holder 90 to the ground, for example, atsloping surfaces, embankments or unevenness of the ground, with the aidof the control means. The distance measurement device 120 also can beformed such that it can measure the horizontal distance of the toolholder 90 to a reference object, for example, a wall, and can keep itconstant by means of the control means.

In a not illustrated embodiment, the multi-purpose working device has apivot between the rear frame 11 and the fixed part 22. The fixed part 22is connected to the rear frame 11 by means of the pivot such that thecentral part 20 is pivotable substantially parallel to the ground. Byemploying such a pivot, the middle part 20 is not connected to the rearpart 11 rigidly, which even further increases the maneuverability of themulti-purpose working device. Preferably, the central part is pivotedfor supporting the cornering by means of the hydraulic system to theright or to the left, whereby the pivot angle can have a fixed relationto the lock angle of the front wheel.

While the present invention has been described at some length and withsome particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, itis not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars orembodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed withreferences to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possibleinterpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore,to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention.Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms ofembodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling descriptionwas available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of theinvention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalentsthereto.

1. Multi-purpose working device (1), in particular, for producing flatsurfaces, having a rear frame (11), a front frame (10), a central part(20) connecting the rear to the front frame, and a tool holder (90)connected to the central part (20) via adjustment means (70), such thatthe tool holder (90) substantially is pivotable perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis and substantially parallel to the ground against thecentral part (20), whereby the rear (11) and the front frame (10) havemovement means (40, 41), preferably wheels, and whereby the central part(20) has at least a fixed (22) and a part (21) movable thereto, suchthat the movable part (21) is moveable substantially longitudinallyagainst the fixed part (22), characterized in that the front frame (10)has a) a front wheel (40), b) means for direction control, preferably ahydraulic control acting on the front wheel, whereby the means for thedirection control preferably are provided such that they can rotate thefront wheel (40) over an angle range of at least 120 degrees in total,preferably at least 160 degrees, especially preferred of at least 180degrees, and c) a drive, preferably a hydraulic drive, for driving thefront wheel (40).
 2. Multi-purpose working device according to claim 1,characterized in that it has a pivot between the rear frame (11) and thecentral part (20) by means of which the central part (20) is pivotable,preferably by means of a hydraulic system, substantially parallel to theground against the rear frame (11).
 3. Multi-purpose working deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that it has adjustment means (70)for adjusting the horizontal and the vertical angles of the tool (30)connected to the tool holder (90) relative to the ground. 4.Multi-purpose working device according to claim 3, characterized in thatthe adjustment means (70) are adjustable decoupled with respect to eachother and separate from each other.
 5. Multi-purpose working deviceaccording to claim 3, characterized in that the adjustment means (70)have hydraulic components.
 6. Multi-purpose working device according toclaim 1, characterized in that the tool holder (90) has a displacementdevice substantially for lateral extension of the tool (30). 7.Multi-purpose working device according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe movable (21) and the fixed part (22) of the central part (20) aresubstantially movable against each other telescopically, preferably bymeans of a hydraulic system.
 8. Multi-purpose working device accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the front frame (10) has means forreceiving further members, preferably of additional weights or furtherapparatuses, especially preferred of further soil working apparatuses.9. Multi-purpose working device according to claim 1, characterized inthat a three points hydraulic system is attached at the rear frame (11),which is intended for receiving further and other tools, preferably ofsoil working devices.
 10. Multi-purpose working device according toclaim 3, characterized in that it has at least one distance measurementdevice by means of which substantially the vertical distance of the tool(30) connected to the tool holder (90) can be determined relative to theground, as well as that it has a control means, which is intended forthe control of the distance between the tool (30) and the ground,whereby the control means moves the tool (30) connected to the toolholder (90) by adjusting the vertical distance of at least one side ofthe tool (30) relative to the ground such that a previously set verticaldistance between the tool (30) and the ground is kept substantiallyconstant during changing ground by means of the control means.